Two senior US officials due next week

Two high-level US delegations are due in Dhaka next week to discuss wide range of issues, including security, transparency, governance and countering extremism, with top government officials and civil society representatives.

Sarah Sewall, US under secretary of state for civilian  security, democracy, and human rights, is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on March 29-31.

The other delegation led by Alan Bersin, US assistant secretary for international affairs and chief diplomatic officer at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Policy, is due to tour Bangladesh on March 30-31 to discuss aviation and airport security and countering terrorism and extremism.

However, a delegation which was expected to arrive in the city this month has postponed its visit. A fresh tour schedule will be announced soon, said diplomatic sources.

US diplomats in Dhaka said the top US officials will visit Dhaka to strengthen collaboration between the two countries on security, democratic rights, labour and trade.

Thomas Dukes, deputy coordinator for cyber issues at the US State Department, was scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on March 22 on a two-day visit. But the tour was postponed due to urgency at home.

The DHS is a cabinet department of the US federal government, created in response to the 9/11 attacks with the primary responsibilities of protecting the US territory from terrorist attacks and responding to natural disasters.